Lessons in life

Yesterday it snowed in MO.  As soon as I told my kids they said, "mom, why did we move here?  We want to be where it snowed".  I also had a small tinge of sadness and regret come over me as I love snow!  But as a mom who wants to support her husband and all he does for us, sucked it up and told them that we moved here to enjoy so much more. 
We can enjoy the snow through pictures while everyone there is wishing they could be here where it was 72 degrees by 11 a.m.   We can go sit on our back porch and draw a beautiful tree in full bloom in the second week of March.  We can learn about the "thumping" rituals of woodpeckers who are native here and experience it firsthand as one has decided our fireplace chimney is the perfect home.  (and since it is against the law to move, touch or otherwise disrupt these birds..we will get to study this nice family of birds for a while) I put on a face of excitement and joy but inside was feeling slight bitterness and alot of sadness.
But funny thing...  Lord is showing me that I need to be an example to my kids. They are taking cues from me.  If I am crabby and cranky guess what so are they. Therefore I need to be excited about Spring coming earlier than I expect or wanted.  I need to be thrilled at the prospects of learning new things about our surroundings.  I want to be an encouragement to my children. I don't want them to remember their move to Atlanta as a drudgery and a let down.  I want them to be happy for Daddy as he is in a job he loves. 
So as we explore our new surroundings we are finding what plants grow well here, what animals are prevalent. And we are making a list of all the neat places that we will get to visit over the next year that we otherwise would not have gotten to see. :)   I am now excited that we get to share this time together and explore a whole new world in this Life that the Lord has graciously granted.

Use of Books

I am a huge sucker for books.  I love books.  Kid books, adult fiction, how to's, it doesn't matter. I love books.  To prove this I have hundreds of books all over my house. I have books on shelves, on coffee tables, in coffee tables, in boxes, on the floor of my bed room, stacked on tables way too high.
If that is not enough, I love to go to the library and find new books to read.  I really love to go to book fairs, book sales, garage sales with books.  I just can't get enough books. 

Recently I have found myself reading books about being organized, a good homemaker, a good wife etc.  These have inspired me to be "super mom".  Then when I go to sleep I dream of all these great things I'm going to do, like wake up before my kids and clean the kitchen, get a load of laundry in and actually cook breakfast instead of pour a bowl of cereal.  However, when morning comes this does not happen.  I find I give the kids their first task of the morning while I'm still lying in bed.  As they finish their morning chores I'm just crawling out of bed and fumbling into the kitchen to pour a bowl of cereal as I am not motivated enough yet to make that nice yummy breakfast I was so motivated to do the night before.  
Two conclusions I've drawn from this.  A)  I'm not a morning person.  I have grand ideas and intentions in the evening but come morning that all has faded all into oblivion.  B) I'm lazy.  Yup that's right, I've come to the conclusion that I am lazy.  I have not set my mind to something well enough to actually do it.  

It is all fine and good to read these great books and be super excited to implement some of the ideas found in these great books but unless I'm willing to actually get off my duff and do them it is no good continuing to peruse the book stores, library and my own stash if I don't make myself actually do something about it. I am just wasting time reading about what I should be doing.  Hopefully, I will set my mind to actually being a little less lazy very soon!

Motivation

I have found that lately I'm lacking a very important key component to my daily duties.  MOTIVATION.  I don't want to do my chores around the house, I don't want to teach school, I don't want to make dinner.... I just want to stay in bed all day!  HMMMM my brain says there is a problem with that logic.  

The definition according to Webster's dictionary is: the condition of being eager to act or work. 

I can't remember the last time I was eager to do anything.  So this has caused me to think.  What is my problem? Why am I unmotivated?  I came to one and only one conclusion. 

SATAN.  

God has been speaking to me for over a year about my role as a mom, a mother and a teacher.  These three seemingly simple things are the key to my service of God, my children's well being, my marriage and a happy home. He has now placed me in a situation where those are all I have... Why am I unmotivated?  Why am I asking why?  It seems very clear to me today that SATAN doesn't want me to be happy here in Georgia.  God must have something so awesome instore for us and I need to get on board.  

My prayer right now is that I see the blessings God has placed in my life today.  I have an awesomely big house that is situated near every major business that I need, yet secluded enough that all I hear in the mornings is the wind in the trees and the birds chirping.  I do not have the distractions of friends and family to keep me from staying home and doing what is necessary.  What better place is there for me right at this moment?  He is stretching me to get outside my comfort zone and meet new people and serve my family first.  I want to seize that blessing before it is gone and I have missed a blessed time in my families life.      

Sad Heart

So today I have a very sad heavy heart.  My best friend has been here for a week visiting.  It has been a wonderful blessed time.  We have chatted, laughed, cried and just had a great time with one another's company.  We have not needed to go site seeing or do grand things.  Just being in one another's company was good.  We went shopping, took each other to lunch and sat on the couch watching chick flicks while the kids slept or played outside.  Today she leaves.  I am struggling with feelings of loss, loneliness and fear.  

I know that I need to trust the Lord with these feelings.  I know that I will be okay.  I know that God has something for me here.  Why else would He have brought me.  However, I also know that so far after 80 some odd days here I have yet to find a friend that I can even call and say hey, much less someone who I can confide in and feel comfortable with.  

I know she is only a phone call away but there is definitely something to be said for being able to meet someone in person. 

I am going to miss her dearly. 

Charlie Horses

So this week I have been experiencing something I haven't experienced since grade school.  I have had charlie horses. OUCH.  I forgot how painful they were.  Tuesday I had just a small one in my calf.  No biggie.  Then as the week continued they became more frequent and painful.  I had one in my thigh which made me think that I was going to collapse on the floor.  

So today when I went to see my NAET doctor I explained to her my issue.  She laughed and said that is good.  I did not see the humor in this.  If it was good that implies that there will be more.  I don't want more.  She said that it actually meant my body was accepting the treatment for my thyroid and therefore my metabolism is starting to rev up (if you will).  That is good news!

But will I have to deal with charlie horses from now on?  Good news, NO.  She said that I needed one of two minerals and that was easily fixable. I could implement them via foods rich in them or I could take them orally.  Wow, that's easy!

I am so excited that I am getting better, I am so excited that there is evidence of getting better.  I'm an instant gratification person so to see results quickly is a good thing. 

Table Talk

I went to a meeting the other night and left convicted yet encouraged.  A mom of five was talking to us about the table.  Not necessarily whats on your table (but she did cover that briefly ) but more the atmosphere that surrounds your family dinner table.  Do your children display good manners?  Are they saying how yucky the dinner is?  Are they sitting in their seats?  Are they able to carry on a decent conversation at the table?  I noticed as she started her talk that I was patting myself on the back as she began with "Are your children saying words like "yuck" or "gross" at the table.  That is a pet peeve of Jeff's so that doesn't happen too much at our table.  I also patted myself on the back when she said can your kids carry on a decent conversation at the table?  Man can my kids talk.  There is no end to the conversation at our table.  And her question of "Do you eat together every night?" Yup been doing that since they were born so yeah for me... Pat, Pat, PAT. 
Next came the conviction and deflating though.  She said "I can tell from the looks on some of your faces that you are doing a typical "Homeschool Mom" pat on the back, before you pat your back so hard it goes out of alignment let me ask you this.  Do your kids sit in their seats through dinner?" 
Ah, crap!  No, I have one that bounces around so much I have pretty much just taken away his chair and he stands at the table.  And as she continued to talk I was convicted of how I am enabling him to fail.  Will he be expected to sit at a dinner meeting for work? Will he be expected to sit at a restaurant?  Will he be expected to sit at work?  YES he will.  I let him stand for school (which I think at his stage is perfectly fine, why else homeschool if you can't help your kids where they need it most, fidget control) but I don't make him sit for dinner as I just don't want to deal with the issue.  That is not a good reason.  I'm sure if I had another reason other than my own laziness then things would be different but there not. Another area of conviction came when she spoke of what happens in your home while you prepare for a dinner with guests.  Are your kids comfortable enough to help?Are you agitated all day while preparing for guests? Do you allow them to help? I struggle with this area so much!  I have let the perfectionist in me overtake my kitchen.  I don't let my kids help me because if I let one then they all want to help and its just too hard to watch three kids in the kitchen when you have a deadline. (and you want everything to be perfect) and yes I get super frustrated and crabby. She then asked us "Did your guests come for a 5 star meal, or did they come for your company, encouragement and friendship?"  OUCH!  I loved the idea she gave to have one kid a day be designated as the MOMMY HELPER.  You have one on one help to teach the child what you have been wanting too teach them but your perfectionism has hindered. 
I loved her talk so much that I bought her book.  I have really enjoyed the lighthearted tips and recipes she has given in her book.  Its not very long but just an encouragement to be the example that God has given to plan ahead, invite and encourage your guests that come into your home.  (Prov. 9:1-6)  The book is called Time Around the Table  by Michele Helms. 
So today we've implemented Mommy's Helper and had a blast.  We are hoping that soon we'll have guests to be able to encourage at our dinner table.  :)

Baby its cold outside!

As a kid I longed to live somewhere that had seasons.  Growing up in AZ you get Summer and Spring.  And Spring is very short lived.  I was so excited when I was able to go to college in MO where I could watch the leaves turn gold, auburn, peach and every shade between.  Then I actually got to experience leaves falling off the trees!  What a beautiful time of year.  My first Thanksgiving in MO was beautiful.  The first ice storm I had ever experienced happened to be the worst MO had seen in 20 years.  The trees turned to a beautiful crystal shimmer.  It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.  Driving from St. Louis to Springfield, MO I was in absolute awe over the crystal reflections of trees everywhere.  Then after winter came Spring, little green shoots popping up out of the ground, gorgeous pink, green, yellow, blue and purple popping up everywhere you looked.  So much better than the brown, olive, tan and brown that was always available in AZ.  As Spring turned to Summer the greens and various colors of Spring turned more vibrant and strong.  Summer then turned to Fall and the cycle would go again.  I thought this was awesome.  I loved experiencing every aspect of 4 seasons.  

Today, living in GA I am once again finding myself missing things like snow, ice and the like.  It is 34 degrees outside but there is not a single flake falling.  We have had drizzle that burns at it touches your skin because it is that cold.  So even though it is 45 outside you can't play outside as the drizzle is just painful.  The ground is wet. My theory is that if it is going to be cold you need to have cold weather type precipitation ie: snow or even ice.  Yes, I said ice at least then it would justify (in my mind anyway) the cold temperatures.  

Since I can not change where I am living.  I will make the best of what I have.  The three oldest kids and I are bundled up on the couch watching School House Rock, learning about adjectives, nouns, gravity and multiplication tables and oh yeah a bill too!